'Speak up so that we can provide legal aid'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 29 2013: Marginalised communities like people living with HIV & AIDS, sex workers, transgender and people who use drugs need to come out and seek legal aid whenever they feel the need, W Tonen Meitei, CJM and Secretary of District Legal Services Authority, Imphal East has exhorted.

He was speaking at the District Level Legal Awareness workshop held under the joint aegis of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Imphal East; Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) and Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) here today.

Encouraging the marginalised communities to make the most of free legal aid provided by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), Tonen went on to point out that out of self stigma and fear many people do not speak up and endure hardship and subjugation quietly.

"You have to speak up so that we can serve you", he exhorted.

While responding to a query on lack of awareness among communities on legal aid, the CJM encouraged the NGOs to approach MASLSA so that awareness programmes can be organized jointly.

MASLSA and DLSAs have been set up with an aim to protect the constitutional rights of all human beings in general and vulnerable communities in particular.

They can approach MASLSA in Imphal or District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA) in districts concerned for grievance redressal, he explained.

Vulnerable communities like People who Use Drugs (PUD), People Living with HIV & AIDS (PLHIV), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and Transgender (TG) representing various community networks and groups and partner NGOs of Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) working in Imphal East took part in the interaction and shared their experiences during the programe.

They narrated incidents of violation of their rights of inheritance, abuse from law enforcement and sought justice.

Sharing his experience, Ksh Keshorjit Singh, Advocate & Para Legal Volunteer working at the Legal Aid Clinic, Uripok Cheirap Court Complex, said that ever since the clinic was set up in 2012 more than 500 cases have been registered and many of these involved rights abuse of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS and transgender.

The MASLSA initiative of providing free legal aid in the state seeks to resolve disputes amicably and avoid litigation as much as possible.

"Our motive is not punishment but to facilitate both parties to mutually come to an agreement so that interests of both are taken care of", he added.

Speaking at the workshop, SK Victor, Consultant Mainstreaming, MACS, emphasized the need for a concerted effort and stated that all stakeholders need to work together so that vulnerable communities access legal aid without difficulty and their rights respected.

Underlining the difficulties faced by communities in accessing legal aid, he also suggested the need for identifying a programme staff in all partner NGOs to look after legal aid.

A referral system can be developed so that whenever legal aid is needed within their area of operation it can be brought to the notice of the District Legal Services Authority, he added.

Meena (name changed), while sharing her experiences of accessing legal aid, said that she heard about free legal aid when she joined Hope Care Network, a state-level network of women infected and affected by HIV & AIDS, in 2011.When her husband died in 2008 Meena was confident she would be able to look after her two children and decided not to ask for help from her husband's first wife who got everything that was left by her husband.

"Initially, I thought I will take care of my children on my own but it was getting more and more difficult.

Through the legal aid clinic, I proposed Rs 3,000 out of the around Rs 7,000 pension that she gets every month.

Finally it was negotiated at 2,000 to be paid by 15th of every month", she added.

After a serious deliberation on various issues related to the marginalised communities, various recommendations were adopted.

The recommendations include identification of community representatives and programme staff to look after legal aid; bring to the notice of the Secretary, DLSA, Imphal East, on any act of abuse or rights violation taking place in the district; give appropriate directives to the law enforcement and take cognizance of cases of violence faced by the marginalized communities; provide timely access to legal counseling for these marginalized communities through legal aid clinics, under the leadership of DLSA, Imphal East and train community representatives as Para Legal Volunteers to facilitate legal aid, etc.

It may be noted here that under MASLSA, there are presently six Legal Aid Clinics in Manipur- LMS Law College, Imphal; Royal Academy of Law, Oinam; Cheirap court complex, Imphal; Legal Aid Clinic, Malom; Legal Aid Clinic for Marginalised Communities at Palace Compound in Imphal East and Legal Aid Clinic, Kakching.

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